Major car manufacturers are recognizing the global power of the Muslim dollar, and jockeying to sign up with financing firms to provide exclusively Shariah compliant solutions to their clients in Islamic markets. This trend could benefit corporates, providing competitive deals and flexible

Property finance is one of the most popular forms of Shariah compliant transaction, and the sector has evolved into a sophisticated market that offers corporates a wide range of attractive options when it comes to funding corporate real estate acquisition. There are

A number of new partnerships have sprung up in Oman over the last month, as Islamic banks unite with customer-facing retailers to provide direct financing solutions that present a new breed of Shariah compliant service enabling access to a far wider range

Everyone knows that Islamic principles require the avoidance of interest. But for most corporates, company credit cards are vital cogs in the operational wheel – and surely the whole concept of credit cards is founded on the assumption of interest repayments? In

Islamic finance is one of the fastest-growing areas in today’s financial markets, and although its roots lie far back in history, the industry has been enthusiastic to embrace modern technology. The latest trend for Islamic banks is a boom in blockchain technology,

In July the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) signed an MoU with the Dubai Islamic Economy Development Center (DIEDC) to prioritize the development of Islamic fintech solutions through the new Fintech Hive accelerator in the DIFC. The partnership is the latest in

This month we explore the benefits of the agency concept in Islamic retail finance. The agency investment account is designed according to the Shariah principle of Wakalah. The customer appoints the bank to perform a transaction, without any fees, for an agreed

Branchless banking is big news – in fact, it could be our financial future. Driven by the mass penetration of mobile phones and the evolving transactional needs of an ever-changing client base, Islamic banks have embraced the concept with multiple institutions now

For clients that wish to structure their banking requirements on a Shariah compliant basis, whether for corporate purposes or at the behest of shareholders, a wide range of options exist for ensuring Islamic alternatives that comply with moral and ethical principles as

A new report from Moody’s Investor Services confirms that the profitability of Islamic banks’ in the GCC region will outpace that of their conventional peers for the second consecutive year in 2017 on the back of stronger margins and resilient cost of

The Islamic retail market in the Gulf is booming, and banks are continuously rolling out new initiatives to encourage take-up and attract new customers. With an ever-expanding array of offerings, this month we take a look at some of the latest Shariah

One of the most positive elements of the Islamic capital market is its focus on developing and encouraging the growth of SMEs and new businesses — a trend that can be seen in myriad ways, from the private sector support schemes of

The perception of Islamic banking can be of complex structures, high transaction fees and a narrower range of products. But in reality this is rarely the case – and in some countries, public opinion is now swinging the other way. A recent

Shariah compliant banking is a growing alternative to the conventional system, and as market conditions get tougher the benefits of the Islamic sector become more apparent. A September report from Moody’s highlighted the strong liquidity profile and retail strength of Islamic banks,

The biggest Islamic bank in the world by capital, Saudi’s Al Rajhi Bank, has bucked the trend of a depressed retail banking market due to its strong Islamic offering, which has sustained performance during a period of increased pressure across the GCC

Simple goods and services contracts can be one of the most important tools that retail banks provide to their corporate customers: facilitating trade and supporting expansion through financial aid for both buying and selling. A retail Islamic bank in Oman recently added

In the first quarter of 2016, the number of enquiries into Islamic finance facilities in the UAE jumped 240%, while Shariah compliant mortgage searches surged 380%. These figures may be specific to the UAE but are representative of the growing interest in

Credit guarantee corporate schemes can be the ideal way for small businesses to access financing at reasonable cost, especially firms with limited collateral. Islamic banks offer a wide range of credit guarantee facilities that allow SMEs to tap financial institutions through state-backed

The Shariah compliant finance market has seen a surge of new developments and product launches that cater to the needs of the mass market and meet the growing demand from consumers and small businesses. We take a look at the most interesting